Fluidized bed biogasifier and method for gasifying biosolids

ABSTRACT

A fluidized bed biogasifier is provided for gasifying biosolids. The biogasifier includes a reactor vessel and a feeder for feeding biosolids into the reactor vessel at a desired feed rate during steady-state operation of the biogasifier. A fluidized bed in the base of the reactor vessel has a cross-sectional area that is proportional to at least the fuel feed rate such that the superficial velocity of gas is in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). In a method for gasifying biosolids, biosolids are fed into a fluidized bed reactor. Oxidant gases are applied to the fluidized bed reactor to produce a superficial velocity of producer gas in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). The biosolids are heated inside the fluidized bed reactor to a temperature range between 900° F. (482.2° C.) and 1700° F. (926.7° C.) in an oxygen-starved environment having a sub-stoichiometric oxygen level, whereby the biosolids are gasified.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 13/361,582, filed Jan. 30, 2012, (which is hereby incorporated by reference).

This application includes material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever

FIELD

The present invention relates in general to the field of sewage sludge treatment, and in particular to a fluidized bed biogasification system and method for use in treatment of biosolids from sewage sludge.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,601 to Davison et al. entitled “Side Feed/Centre Ash Dump System” describes a gasifier for gasifying solid fuel, including solid organic materials. The gasifier includes a primary oxidation chamber having an inner surface lined with a refractory material. An inlet opening in one of the sides is provided for infeed of the solid fuel into the primary oxidation chamber. A storage container stores the solid fuel, and a transfer means connects the storage container with the inlet opening for transferring in an upwardly inclined direction the solid fuel from the storage container through the inlet opening into the primary oxidation chamber to form an upwardly mounted fuel bed of the solid fuel including the organic materials on the bottom of the primary oxidation chamber. The transfer means includes a hydraulic ram feeder and a compression tube, the hydraulic ram feeder driving fuel from the storage container into the compression tube, thereby compacting the fuel. Means are provided for supplying an oxidant into the primary oxidation chamber to gasify the solid organic materials to produce a gaseous effluent, thereby leaving a residue of solid fuel. Means are provided for removing the gaseous effluent from the primary oxidation chamber. An opening in the bottom of the primary oxidation chamber has mounted thereunder a means for the removal of the residue, including a walking-floor feeder.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,322,301 to Childs describes a method for processing wet sewage sludge or other feedstock including carbonaceous material principally composed of wet organic materials in a gasifier to produce useful products. The sludge or feedstock is first dewatered using thermal energy in a location separate from the gasifier. The feedstock is processed with a small amount of oxygen or air present at a temperature required to break down the feedstock and generate producer gas and char in the gasifier. Some of the fuel produced during the feedstock processing step is fed back to the separate location and burned to provide the thermal energy required in the feedstock dewatering step and thereby minimize or eliminate the need for external energy to dry the wet feedstock.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,567 to Cordell et al. describes a method for gasifying solid organic materials to produce a gaseous effluent and solid residue. A primary oxidation chamber having a converging upper portion and a bottom portion are provided. Solid organic materials are introduced into the primary oxidation chamber upwardly from the bottom portion of the primary oxidation chamber to provide a mass of solid organic materials in the primary oxidation chamber. The mass of solid organic materials is heated in the primary oxidation chamber. An oxidant is added to the primary oxidation chamber to gasify the heated mass of solid organic materials in the primary oxidation chamber and to initiate a flow of gaseous effluent within the primary oxidation chamber. A gaseous effluent flow path is established within the primary oxidation chamber, whereby a portion of the gaseous effluent repeatedly flows in a recirculating upward and downward direction through the heated solid organic materials to enhance continuous oxidation of the solid organic materials. A further portion of the gaseous effluent flow is advanced in a direction outward from the primary oxidation chamber. The solid residue is then transferred out of the primary oxidation chamber.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a fluidized bed biogasifier is provided for gasifying biosolids. The biogasifier includes a reactor vessel and a feeder for feeding biosolids into the reactor vessel at a desired feed rate during steady-state operation of the biogasifier. A fluidized media bed in the base of the reactor vessel has a cross-sectional area that is proportional to at least the fuel feed rate so as to produce a superficial velocity of gas in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). In an embodiment, the internal diameter of the reactor is configured to be small enough to ensure that the fluidized bed is able to be fluidized adequately for the desired fuel feed rate and the flow rate of the fluidizing gas mixture at different operating temperatures, but not so small as to create such high gas velocities that a slugging fluidization regime occurs and media is projected up the freeboard section. Other factors may be used in the design and sizing of the biogasifier, including internal diameter of the bed section, internal diameter of a freeboard section, height of the freeboard section, bed depth and the bed section height.

In an embodiment, a method for gasifying biosolids is provided. Biosolids are fed into a fluidized bed reactor. Fluidizing gas consisting of air, flue gas, pure oxygen or steam, or a combination thereof, is introduced into the fluidized bed reactor to create a velocity range inside the freeboard section of the gasifier that is in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). The biosolids are heated inside the fluidized bed reactor to a temperature range between 900° F. (482.2° C.) and 1700° F. (926.7° C.) in an oxygen-starved environment having sub-stoichiometric levels of oxygen, e.g., typically oxygen levels of less than 45% of stoichiometric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles of the invention.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show schematic block diagrams illustrating alternate embodiments of the flow of an overall treatment process for biosolids.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view illustrating a fluidized bed biogasifier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view illustrating the gas distributor of the biogasifier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4A-4B show a schematic block diagram illustrating part of a gasification process in accordance with the invention in an embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view illustrating a non-limiting example of biogasifier internal dimensions in accordance with the invention in an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

With reference to FIG. 1A, an overall process for treatment of biosolids is shown. The process begins with a dewatering unit 1 for removing water content from the wet sewage sludge. Dewatering may be achieved in the dewatering unit 1 utilizing integrated technology including, e.g., a belt filter press, plate-and-frame press, and/or centrifuge. Specific volumes and blending of polymer are used in accordance with the specific application to help flocculate the materials and gain the most efficient dewatered percentage prior to the next step in the overall process.

The material can then be fed into storage 1 and storage 2, which may be sized such that appropriately staged volumes of dewatered cake are maintained within the pipeline to ensure a continuous process in the dryer. The storage may be controlled through load cells or level sensors, and the moisture of the biosolids may be constantly measured en-route to the pre-drying/dryer operation to ensure optimum control and performance output.

A pre-dryer unit 3 then takes the condensate and steam, typically at 215° F. to 240° F., from the biosolids dryer and uses it to pre-heat the biosolids prior to entry into the dryer. This pre-dryer feed loop 6 minimizes the amount of energy subsequently required by the dryer and demand on the biogasifier to the thermal fluid loop.

The biosolids are then fed to a biosolids dryer 4, which may consist of a continuous feed, screw-type biosolids dryer. The biosolids dryer may utilize thermal energy produced from the coupled gasification-combustion system as its primary source of energy for use in the drying process. The flue gas may then be passed through the heat exchanger. The energy from the heated flue gas can be conveyed through a gas-to-liquid heat exchanger into the thermal heating fluid. This thermal fluid may be recirculated through the chambers of the dryer “indirectly” conveying energy to the biosolids and thereby drying the product. The flue gas temperature into the heat exchanger may be controlled through the use of induction and dilution fans in order to maintain a consistent heat source for the drying system.

An odor control section 5 utilizes multiple types of odor control technology to extract all pollutants that may become airborne and potentially harmful outside of the process.

Dried biosolids storage 7 can be provided between the biosolids dryer 4 and the biogasifier feed system 8. The dried biosolids storage 7 may be sized to ensure that appropriately staged volumes of fuel can be maintained. This ensures a continuous process in the biogasifier. The storage 7 may be controlled through load cells or level sensors to ensure optimum control and performance output.

The biogasifier feed system 8 can be configured to meter the delivery of biosolids fuel into the biogasifier. In an embodiment, the feed system 8 includes two metering screws and a high-speed injection screw into the biogasifier bed for this purpose.

The biogasifier feed system 8 feeds a biogasifier unit 9. In an embodiment, the biogasifier unit 9 is of the bubbling fluidized bed type with a custom fluidizing gas delivery system and multiple instrument control. The biogasifier unit 9 provides the ability to continuously operate, discharge ash and recycle flue gas for optimum operation. The biogasifier unit 9 can be designed to provide optimum control of temperature, reaction rate and conversion of the biosolids fuel into producer gas. The control mechanism for temperature within the biogasifier may be based on the system's ability to adjust the oxygen content relative to the fuel feed rate, thus adjusting reaction temperatures. In an embodiment, the biogasifier operates within a temperature range of 900°-1700° F. during steady state operation. In another embodiment, the biogasifier operates within a temperature range of 1150°-1600° F. during steady state operation, and this range is significantly preferred since it has been determined that below 1150° F. there will be limited reactions occurring and above 1600° F. there will be very pronounced agglomeration problems with biosolids. Oxygen is a reactant that facilitates the chemical reactions necessary for sustaining the gasification process.

A cyclone separator 10 can be provided to separate material exhausted from the fluidized bed reactor to create clean producer gas and ash for disposal. In an embodiment, the cyclone separator 10 is efficient to ensure over 95% particulate removal and gas clean up.

Ash discharge 11 from both the biogasifier 9 and the cyclone separator 10 are safe to transport. Such ash discharge may be disposed of, or may provide value in commercial applications, such as from the recovery and use of phosphorous.

A staged-combustion thermal oxidizer 12 may be provided for thermal oxidation of clean producer gas from the cyclone separator 10. This process may be used to generate heat that is used as energy in the system to operate, e.g., the biosolids dryer 4 in part or in full. The thermal oxidizer may be a refractory lined steel unit with ports for the introduction of air to promote the homogenous blending of the producer gas with air, taking the resultant mass to combustion. The producer gases are delivered from the biogasifier 9, to the thermal oxidizer 12 where they are reacted in a multi-stage process under negative pressure. In each stage, the temperature and oxygen content are tightly controlled, resulting in conversion of the producer gas to a very clean, low NOx, high-grade flue gas stream that may be recovered and used, as noted above, for the generation of heat as an energy input back into the system, or may be output from the system for other commercial uses.

Emissions controls 13 are provided for controlling emissions from the staged combustion thermal oxidizer 12. The emissions controls 13 may include an injection/misting point in which emission control chemicals are inserted after the combustion stage to reduce the NOx levels within the exiting air stream. Emission control chemicals may be either one or a combination of aqueous ammonia and urea.

A bypass stack 14 may be utilized for exhausting hot flue gas and/or thermal energy in the case of an emergency upset within the system, as controlled via a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.

Dependent upon the end use of the energy, the media into which the thermal energy is conveyed may be thermal oil, hot water, steam, or the like. This process is achieved through the use of high efficiency heat exchangers that transfer thermal energy from the hot flue gas into another media. This converted media can be used to provide the energy to the selected recovery system. The gasification-combustion process followed by energy recovery utilizes energy in biosolids and reduces or eliminates the need for use of fossil fuels to dry the biosolids. This makes the disclosed gasification system an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution to biosolids management.

A first heat exchanger 15 receives heated flue gas from the staged combustion thermal oxidizer 12. The first heat exchanger 15 may be a gas-to-liquid type heat exchanger. Energy from the heated flue gas may be conveyed through the first heat exchanger 15 into a thermal heating fluid. This thermal fluid may be recirculated through the chambers of the dryer, indirectly conveying thermal energy to the biosolids and thereby drying the product. A thermal fluid loop 16 from the first heat exchanger 15 to the biosolids dryer 4 allows the energy recovery system to utilize heated flue gas from the thermal oxidizer as its primary source of energy.

A second heat exchanger 17 utilizes additional energy recovery streams (typically wasted) and returns the energy to the process for optimum performance efficiency. The second heat exchanger 17 in this embodiment is dedicated to a recycle flue gas loop 18. The source of the oxygen for the disclosed gasification system may be designed to come from air or flue gas, or mixtures thereof. In an embodiment, the disclosed system is configured such that oxygen may be introduced via re-circulated flue gas, which has an oxygen content of approximately 50% of ambient air. Having both ambient air and flue gas available as an oxygen source provides a level of flexibility for oxygen delivery that can be further used to control the biogasifier 9 temperature more precisely.

The infusion of flue gas into the fluidizing air stream provides some of the gas velocity required to transport particles out of the biogasifier 9 and into the cyclone, especially during low fuel feed rate operation conditions.

A third heat exchanger 19 may be provided to take additional energy streams, which are typically wasted in other processes, and re-insert them into the process for greater performance efficiency. In an embodiment, heat exchanger 19 is dedicated to the hot air feed 20 into the thermal oxidizer. The hot air feed 20, which comprises oxidizer air provides heating of the air being injected (via staged combustion air rings) into the oxidizer which assists in the overall efficiency and combustion ability through the process.

An emissions control device 21 may be used to remove acid gases from the flue gas stream, such as SO2 and HCL, resultant from the combustion cycle. This emissions control device may be in the form of a dry injection system or a dry spray absorption system. In an embodiment, these systems may consist of multiple sections or devices: a device to blend the dry sorbent media with liquid in order to develop a sorbent slurry or a device to directly incorporate dry sorbent, a device to meter and inject said sorbent slurry or dry sorbent into the flue gas stream, a device to control the flow rate of the flue gas stream enabling efficient absorption of acid gases into the sorbent, a collection vessel for removal of precipitated dried reacted products (acid gases and sorbent slurry), or a secondary system (bag house) to capture absorbed dry reacted product or residuals that remain within the flue gas stream (downstream of the dry spray absorber or dry injection system).

A bag house 22 may be provided for filtering remaining particulate from the flue gas, and may comprise a pulse-jet type bag house. Flue gases entering the bag house are cleaned by filtering the particulate through the bags in the bag house. A high-pressure blast of air is used to remove dust from the bag. Due to its rapid release, the blast of air does not interfere with contaminated flue gas flow. Therefore, the pulse-jet bag house can operate continuously with high effectiveness in cleaning the exiting flue gas.

A clean flue gas stack 23 provides the normal exit point from the process and one of many emission testing points that may be utilized to maintain constant regulatory compliance.

A SCADA system can be utilized to ensure full process control to all aspects of the biogasification system. As such, typical thermocouples, pressure instruments, level switches, gas analysis, moisture metering, flow meters and process instrumentation are used to provide ‘real time’ feedback, and automated adjustment of actuators to ensure optimum and efficient operation.

FIG. 1B shows an alternate embodiment of the overall flow diagram of FIG. 1A. In this embodiment, two heat exchangers are utilized rather than three as in the embodiment of FIG. 1A. In accordance with this embodiment, the second heat exchanger 17 can be utilized for additional energy recovery streams (typically wasted) and return the energy to the process for optimum performance efficiency. The second heat exchanger 17 may be used as a biogasifier oxidant air and gas pre-heater. The source of the oxygen for the disclosed gasification system may be designed to come from air or flue gas, or mixtures thereof. In an embodiment, the disclosed system may be configured such that the biogasifier oxidant air and gas, independently or in a mixed configuration, may be pre-heated as a means of energy recovery to further optimize the gasification system performance efficiency.

FIG. 2 shows a side view illustrating a fluidized bed biogasifier 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the fluidized bed biogasifier 200 includes a bubbling type fluidized bed. The fluidized bed may utilize sand or other fluidizing media. A bubbling reactor bed section 204 is filled with media. Fluidized fuel feed inlets 201 in the reactor bed section 204 receive sludge at 40°-250° F., e.g., 215° F., and a flue gas inlet 203 in the bubbling bed receives flue gas at, e.g., 600° F. The flue gas can be fed to the bubbling bed via a gas distributor (FIG. 3). An oxygen monitor 209 may be provided in communication with the flue gas inlet 203 to monitor oxygen concentration in connection with controlling oxygen levels in the gasification process. An inclined or over-fire natural gas burner (not visible) located on the side of the reactor vessel receives a natural gas and air mixture via a port 202 at, e.g., 77F and uses the same as fuel. View ports 206 and a media fill port 212 are provided.

A freeboard section 205 may be provided between the fluidized bed in the reactor bed section 204 and the outlet 210 of the biogasifier. As the biosolids thermally decompose in the fluidized bed and then rise through the reactor vessel, they are transformed through a reactor bed section. The fluidizing medium in the fluidized bed is disentrained from the producer gas in a disengaging zone. A cyclone separator 207 may be provided to separate material exhausted from the fluidized bed reactor into clean producer gas for recovery and ash for disposal. An optional ash grate, discussed below, may be fitted below the biogasifier vessel for bottom ash removal. A producer gas control 208 monitors oxygen and carbon monoxide levels in the producer gas and controls the process accordingly.

A number of thermocouple probes are placed in the biogasifier to monitor the temperature profile throughout the biogasifier. Some of the thermal probes are placed in the fluidized bed section 204 of the biogasifier while others are placed in the freeboard section 205 of the biogasifier. The thermal probes placed in the fluidized bed are used not only to monitor the bed temperature, but are also control points that are coupled to the biogasifier air system in order to maintain a certain temperature profile in the bed of fluidizing media. There are also a number of additional instruments placed in the biogasifier to monitor the pressure differential across the bed and the operating pressure of the biogasifier in the freeboard section. These additional instruments are used to monitor the conditions within the biogasifier as well to as control other ancillary equipment and processes to maintain the desired operating conditions within the biogasifier. Examples of such ancillary equipment and processes include, e.g., the cyclone, thermal oxidizer and recirculating flue gas and air delivery processes.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view illustrating the gas distributor 302 of the biogasifier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A flue gas and air inlet 203 feeds flue gas and air to an array of nozzles 301. Each of the nozzles includes downwardly directed ports in cap 303 such that gas exiting the nozzle is initially directed downward before being forced upward into the fluidized bed in the reactor bed section 204 (FIG. 2). An optional ash grate under the gasifier may be used as a ‘sifting’ device to remove any agglomerated particles so that the fluidizing media and unreacted char can be reintroduced into the biogasifier for continued utilization.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4A-4B, startup and operation of the biogasifer will now be described. This example is based on a feed rate of 1850 lbs/hr of biosolids at 90% solids.

Start-Up of the Biogasifier

The inline or over-fire natural gas burner is ignited and a slip stream of gasifier air mixed with natural gas is combusted and directed onto the top of the fluidized bed to heat up the refractory lined biogasifier reactor.

The bed begins to warm up and fluidization becomes more aggressive as the fluidizing media and fluidizing gas heat up.

The hot gas from the natural gas burner then passes into the upper section of the biogasifier and into the cyclone. This begins the warm up of the refractory in these components.

The induced draft fan is turned on and the hot gas is drawn into the oxidizer, through the heat exchangers, into the scrubbing system, and then up the stack. This continues the warm up process of the plant.

This process is continued until the biogasifier bed temperature is above 900° F. and the refractory temperature in the cyclone and oxidizer are at least 600° F.

The flue gas recycle blower is then started slowly and additional fluidizing gas is introduced into the biogasifier. This increases the fluidization regime and increases the effectiveness of the cyclone at removing particulate.

The dried sludge at 40°-250° F. from the dryer is now slowly added to begin heat generation within the bed of fluidizing media and the temperature is monitored closely at this point, operating within a temperature range of 1150°-1600° F. This reduces the possibility of agglomerating or “clinkering” of the ash.

The biogasification reaction begins and producer gas is produced, which entrains some solids (ash and unreacted carbon) into the cyclone where particulate matter larger than 10 microns is removed by the cyclone.

The freeboard or disengaging zone allows the largest sized particles to decelerate and fall back to the bed of the biogasifier.

The solids separated by the cyclone are emptied from the base of the cyclone into a specially designed separator where the fine ash (and some carbon) is taken out as waste and the remainder is recycled back to the biogasifier. This increases the overall conversion of fuel to close to 100%.

As the temperature increases and approaches the target operating temperature, preferably in the range of 1150°-1600° F., the gasification and pyrolysis reactions are at the desired levels.

Operation of the Biogasifier

The oxygen starved environment in the biogasification process may be achieved by controlling the level of oxidant air and gas entering into the reactor. Oxidant air, or ambient air, consists of approximately 23.2% oxygen by weight. Oxidant gas, or recycled flue gas, consists of oxygen levels that may vary from 5% to 15% by weight.

The temperature within the biogasifier may be controlled by adjusting the amount of oxidant air and gas entering into the reactor.

The ratio of oxygen entering the biogasifier supplied by oxidant air and gas in relation to the stoichiometric oxygen required for complete combustion of the biosolids fuel is referred to as the equivalence ratio and may be used as a means of regulating temperature within the biogasification unit. Gasification occurs by operating a thermochemical conversion process with an oxygen-to-fuel equivalence ratio between 0.1 and 0.5 relative to complete stoichiometric combustion.

Depending on the selected biosolids fuel feed rate the blend of Oxidant air to Oxidant gas will vary in order to sustain a total mass level within the biogasifier required to operate the cyclone within an acceptable range of efficiency while meeting the targeted equivalence ratio selected in order to control the process temperature.

Bed pressure within the biogasifier reaction zone may be monitored as a means of controlling the pressure of the biogasifier oxidant air and gas entering the biogasification unit and thereby ensuring continuous fluidization of the reactor bed media.

In the biogasifier 200, the oxygen is used to control the temperature, extend the reaction and overall generation of the producer gas, and typically these reactions are:

C+O2→CO2Exothermic

2H+0.5O2→H2O Exothermic

The heat generated heats up the incoming biosolids feed, biogasifier air and recycled flue gas streams to the reaction temperature.

It also provides the heat to complete the mostly endothermic biogasification reactions that take place in the biogasifier, namely:

C+H2O→CO+H2 Endothermic

CO2+C→2CO Endothermic

H2O+CO→H2+CO2 Exothermic

C+2H2→CH4Exothermic

If excessive oxygen is introduced, the quality of the producer gas will be reduced. Maintaining a uniform operating temperature across the fluidized bed of the biogasifier is key to operational success.

Based on the biogasifier air and flue gas streams, and fuel properties plus conversion extent, the superficial velocity of the gas in the bed and freeboard section of the biogasifier can be calculated. This determines what size particles of fluidizing media (e.g., sand), ash, and biosolids are entrained out with the producer gas. Many factors are used to calculate superficial velocity inside the reactor, including air flow rate, recycled flue gas flow rate, reactor physical geometry such as cross sectional area and shape, sewage sludge fuel composition, fuel feed rate, and fuel conversion extent.

Using recycled flue gas, which has a lower percentage of oxygen than air, allows not only a better way to control the oxygen and hence temperature in the biogasifier, but also allows greater control of the superficial velocity of the producer gas in both the bed and freeboard sections of the biogasifier.

The biosolids, even though they are 90% solids, include clustered particles that are partially reacted and can be carried out of the biogasifier prematurely. The usual once through fuel conversion is about 85%, so 15% unreacted carbon may be carried into the cyclone.

The particle density of the inert ash is about 2160 kg/m³, the fluidizing media is around 2600 kg/m³, and the sludge particles around 600 kg/m³.

By choosing a superficial gas velocity of 1.1 m/s in the freeboard section, for example, it is possible to entrain out ash particles of 200 microns and fluidizing media particles of 100 microns in the fluidized bed. The target particle size range of the fluidizing media is within the range of 400-900 microns, so that none is lost to the cyclone separator 207.

About 50% of the ash has particles that are less than 200 microns and will be carried over to the cyclone separator 207, with about 50% being left in the bed.

Some unreacted carbon is carried into the cyclone separator 207 with particle sizes ranging from 10 to 300 microns. When the solids are removed from the bottom of the cyclone, the ash and unreacted carbon can be separated and much of the unreacted carbon recycled back into the biogasifier, thus increasing the overall fuel conversion to at least 95%. Ash accumulation in the bed of fluidizing media may be alleviated through adjusting the superficial velocity of the gases rising inside the reactor. Alternatively, bed media and ash could be slowly drained out of the gasifier base and screened over a grate before being reintroduced back into the biogasifier. This process can be used to remove small agglomerated particles should they form in the bed of fluidizing media and can also be used to control the ash-to-media ratio within the fluidized bed.

Operation of the Thermal Oxidizer

When the dried biosolids feed to the biogasifier is started, the oxidizer air is turned on and passed into the heat exchanger 19 (FIG. 1) where it is slowly preheated before being added to the oxidizer 12. The oxidizer may be fitted with an ignition source and when the producer gas reaches the reaction chamber, the oxidation commences and significant combustion heat is produced.

During normal operation, the temperature of the flue gas leaving the oxidizer is, for example between 1800° and 2200° F. The sensible heat from this stream is transferred via the pre-dryer and dryer heat exchangers and the flue gas temperature is reduced from 1800° F. to about 550° F.

When required, the heat exchanger 17 is used to pre-heat the biogasifier gas stream prior to injection into the biogasifier.

The flue gas is now about 500° F. and between 20 and 30% of the flue gas is recycled back to the biogasifier using the flue gas recycle blower. The remainder passes into heat exchanger 3 where the oxidized air may be pre-heated to at least 300° F. When the oxidizer air is pre-heated to 300° F. and over, less energy from combustion of producer gas may be used to heat the air up to the temperature that the thermal oxidizer operates at, thus increasing the performance of the oxidizer.

Using the oxygen level defined at the oxidizer inlet, the oxygen level in the flue gas can be adjusted by increasing/decreasing the amount of air being fed to the oxidizer. Oxygen levels can be controlled by limiting the use of external or ambient air and increasing an amount of recirculated flue gas in order to maintain a required temperature profile at the exit of the oxidizer.

This has the effect of increasing/decreasing the excess air being fed to the oxidizer but is never below the minimum level of excess air required (>25%), to ensure complete combustion and low emissions.

Biogasifier Reactor Sizing

The following provides a non-limiting example illustrating computation of the best dimensions for a bubbling fluidized bed biogasification reactor in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The biogasifier, in this example, is sized to accommodate two specific operating conditions:

-   -   1. The current maximum dried biosolids output generated from the         dryer with respect to the average solids content of the         dewatered sludge supplied to the dryer from the existing belt         press dewatering unit, and     -   2. The future maximum dried biosolids feed rate that the dryer         will have to deliver to the biogasifier if the overall biosolids         processing system has to operate without consumption of external         energy, e.g., natural gas, during steady state operation with         25% solids content dewatered sludge being dried and 5400 lb/hr         of water being evaporated from the sludge.

The first operating condition corresponds to the maximum output of dried sewage sludge from the dryer if, e.g., 16% solids content sludge is entering the dryer, and 5400 lb/hr of water is evaporating off the sludge. This corresponds to a biosolids feed rate of 1168 lb/hr of thermally dried biosolids at 10% moisture content entering the gasifier. The second operating condition corresponds to the maximum amount of dried biosolids (dried to 10% moisture content) that the drier can produce if 25% solids content dewatered biosolids is fed into the drier. A solids content of 25% represents the estimated extent of dewatering that is required to make the drying load equal to the amount of thermal energy which can be recovered from the flue gas and used to operate the dryer. If biosolids below 25% solids content are processed in the dryer, an external heat source can be expected to be required to supplement the drying process. The second condition corresponds to the gasifier needing to process 2000 lb/hr of 10% moisture content biosolids.

FIG. 5 shows a non-limiting example of the biogasifier internal dimensions in accordance with the invention in an embodiment. The dimensions shown satisfy the operational conditions that are outlined below. Tables 1-3 below show a non-limiting example of physical parameters taken into consideration when setting the biogasifier dimensions. Tables 1 and 2 show fuel composition results in accordance with an ultimate analysis and a proximate analysis, respectively.

TABLE 1 Element wt %_(drybasis) C: 41.9 H: 5.5 O: 21.6 N: 6.5 S: 1.0 Ash (assume 100% Si): 23.5 100

TABLE 2 wt %_(drybasis) Volatile matter: 65.4 Fixed carbon: 11.1 Ash 23.5

TABLE 3 Case 1: Low Case 2: High Biosolids Biosolids Feed Rate of Feed Rate of Parameter: 1168 lb/hr 2000 lb/hr Average temperature 1450° F. or 1450° F. or in gasifier 788° C. 788° C. (media bed & freeboard) Moisture content of the  10%  10% biosolids into the gasifier Calorific value of the 7600 Btu/lb 7600 Btu/lb biosolids (HHV dry basis) Estimated average fuel 300 μm 300 μm particle size Estimated average ash 200 μm 200 μm particle size Target equivalence ratio 0.3 0.3 Amount of gasification 1825 lb/hr 3125 lb/hr air required Volume flow rate of 0.17 m³/s 0.29 m³/s gasification air (at S.T.P) Assumed volatile matter 100% 100% conversion to producer gas Assumed fixed carbon  50%  50% conversion to producer gas Producer gas mass flow rate 0.339 kg/s or 0.580 kg/s or 2630 lb/hr 4592 lb/hr Producer gas volume 1.02 m³/s at 1.74 m³/s at flow rate (actual) 1450° F. 1450° F. Producer gas volume 2352 ACFM at 4029 ACFM at flow rate (actual) 1450° F. 1450° F. Producer gas volume 0.29 m³/s 0.49 m³/s flow rate (S.T.P) Producer gas volume 661 SCFM 1133 SCFM flow rate (S.T.P) Estimated fuel 600 kg/m³ 600 kg/m³ particle density Estimated ash 2160 kg/m³ 2160 kg/m³ particle density Estimated media (sand) 2600 kg/m³ 2600 kg/m³ particle density Selected Ø I.D of bed section 3.75 ft or 3ft, 9″ 3.75 ft or 3ft, 9″ Media bed depth 3 ft 3 ft (unfluidized) Height of reactor bed-section 4.5 ft 4.5 ft Superficial velocity of gas 0.99 m/s 1.70 m/s above media bed surface Superficial velocity from 0.16 m/s 0.28 m/s gasification air at S.T.P Minimum fluidization 0.16 m/s 0.16 m/s velocity, U_(mf) based on air at S.T.P Average media (sand) ~700 μm ~700 μm particle size in the bed Pressure drop across 1.7 psi 1.7 psi incipiently fluidized bed (gas distributor to bed surface). Selected Ø I.D of 4.75 ft or 4 ft, 9″ 4.75 ft or 4ft, 9″ freeboard section Superficial velocity of 0.62 m/s 1.06 m/s gas in freeboard T.D.H for particles ~11.9 ft ~21.8 ft Maximum size of fuel particle 195 μm 390 μm which will get entrained Maximum size of ash particle 100 μm 200 μm which will get entrained Maximum size of 85 μm 180 μm media particle which will get entrained Energy input to gasifier 2.34 MW_(th) 4.00 MW_(th) (HHV basis) Equivalent grate energy 2.28 MW_(th)/m² 3.90 MW_(th)/ release rate m² Equivalent grate energy 722,596 Btu_(th)/ft² 1,237,322 Bt_(uth)/ft² release rate (~1 million Btu per ft² of bed area) Reactor diameter to fuel 1.61 ft/[500 0.94 ft/[500 feed rate ratio (~1ft diameter lb/hr fuel] lb/hr fuel] for every 500 lb/hr fuel)

With continued reference to FIG. 5, one factor in determining biogasifier sizing is the bed section internal diameter. The role of the bed section of the reactor is to contain the fluidized media bed. The driving factor for selecting the internal diameter of the bed section of the gasifier is the superficial velocity range of gases, which varies with different reactor internal diameters. The internal diameter has to be small enough to ensure that the media bed is able to be fluidized adequately for the given air, recirculated flue gas and fuel feed rates at different operating temperatures, but not so small as to create such high velocities that a slugging regime occurs and media is projected up the freeboard section. The media particle size can be adjusted during commissioning to fine tune the fluidizing behavior of the bed. In the present, non-limiting example, an average media (sand) particle size of 700 μm was selected due to its ability to be fluidized readily, but also its difficulty to entrain out of the reactor. The most difficult time to fluidize the bed is on start up when the bed media and incoming gases are cold. This minimum flow rate requirement is represented by the minimum fluidization velocity (U_(mf)) values displayed in the previous table.

Another factor in determining biogasifier sizing is the freeboard section internal diameter. The freeboard region of the biogasifier allows for particles to drop out under the force of gravity. The diameter of the freeboard is selected with respect to the superficial velocity of the gas mixture that is created from different operating temperatures and fuel feed rates. The gas superficial velocity must be great enough to entrain the small ash particles, but not so great that the media particles are entrained in the gas stream. The extent of fresh fuel entrainment should also be minimized from correct freeboard section sizing. This is a phenomenon to carefully consider in the case of biosolids gasification where the fuel typically has a very fine particle size. Introducing the fuel into the side of the fluidized bed below the fluidizing media's surface is one method to minimize fresh fuel entrainment. This is based on the principle that the fuel has to migrate up to the bed's surface before it can be entrained out of the biogasifier, and this provides time for the gasification reactions to occur. In the present non-limiting example, a reactor freeboard diameter of 4 ft, 9″ is chosen in an effort to maintain gas superficial velocities high enough to entrain out ash, but prevent entrainment of sand (or other fluidizing media) particles in the bed.

A further factor in determining biogasifier sizing is the media bed depth and bed section height. In general, the higher the ratio of media to fuel in the bed, the more isothermic the bed temperatures are likely to be. Typically, fluidized beds have a fuel-to-media mass ratio of about 1-3%. The amount of electrical energy consumed to fluidize the media bed typically imparts a practical limit on the desirable depth of the media. Deeper beds have a higher gas pressure drop across them and more energy is consumed by the blower to overcome this resistance to gas flow. A fluidizing media depth of 3 ft is chosen in this example based on balancing the blower energy consumption against having enough media in the bed to maintain isothermal temperature and good heat transfer rates. The height of the bed section of the reactor in this non-limiting example is based on a common length-to-diameter aspect ratio of 1.5, relative to the depth of the fluidizing media.

Another factor in determining biogasifier sizing is the height of the freeboard section. The freeboard section is designed to drop out particles under the force of gravity. As one moves up in elevation from the bed's surface, the particle density decreases, until at a certain elevation, a level known as the Transport Disengaging Height (TDH) is reached. Above the TDH, the particle density entrained up the reactor is constant. Extending the reactor above the TDH adds no further benefit to particle removal. For practical purposes loft is selected in this non-limiting example.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for gasifying biosolids obtained from sewage sludge, comprising: receiving biosolids in a fluidized bed biogasifier, the biogasifier having: a reactor vessel; a freeboard section having a diameter of at least 57 inches and a height of at least 10 feet; a feeder for feeding biosolids into said reactor vessel, said feeder being configured to feed said biosolids into said reactor vessel at a biosolids fuel feed rate during steady-state operation of the biogasifier; and a fluidized bed in a bed section of said reactor vessel, said fluidized bed having a diameter of at least 45 inches; wherein the freeboard section has a greater diameter than the fluidized bed, and further wherein a ratio of a height of the bed section of the reactor vessel to a depth of the fluidized bed is 1.5; introducing gas to said fluidized bed reactor; and heating and reacting said biosolids inside said biogasifier, whereby biosolids are gasified.
 2. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 1, wherein a superficial velocity of producer gas inside the freeboard section during steady state operation is between 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) and 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s).
 3. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 1, wherein a thermochemical conversion process occurs within the biogasifier at a temperature between 900° F. (482.2° C.) and 1700° F. (926.7° C.).
 4. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fluidized bed reactor comprises a bubbling fluidized bed reactor.
 5. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 3, wherein said temperature range is between 1150° F. (621.1° C.) and 1600° F. (871.1° C.).
 6. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 1, wherein a superficial velocity of the producer gas inside the freeboard section during steady state operation is between 0.5 m/s and 2.5 m/s.
 7. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of using a cyclone separator to separate material exhausted from said fluidized bed reactor into producer gas and ash.
 8. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 3, wherein the thermochemical conversion process occurs with an oxygen-to-fuel equivalence ratio between 0.1 and 0.5.
 9. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 3, wherein the thermochemical conversion process occurs with an oxygen-to-fuel equivalence ratio between 0.15 and 0.35.
 10. A method for gasifying biosolids obtained from sewage sludge, comprising: receiving biosolids in a biogasifier apparatus, the apparatus having: a fluidized bed biogasifier for gasifying biosolids to produce a producer gas; a staged-combustion thermal oxidizer for thermally oxidizing said producer gas; and a recycle flue gas loop connecting the staged-combustion thermal oxidizer to the fluidized bed biogasifier; wherein the fluidized bed gasifier comprises: a reactor vessel; a freeboard section having a diameter of at least 57 inches and a height of at least 10 feet; a feeder for feeding biosolids into said reactor vessel, said feeder being configured to feed said biosolids into said reactor vessel at a biosolids fuel feed rate during steady-state operation of the biogasifier; and a fluidized bed in a bed section of said reactor vessel, said fluidized bed having a diameter of at least 45 inches; wherein the freeboard section has a greater diameter than the fluidized bed; and further wherein the recycle flue gas loop is configured to recycle flue gas to the fluidized bed biogasifier; introducing gas to said fluidized bed reactor; and heating and reacting said biosolids inside said biogasifier, whereby biosolids are gasified.
 11. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 10, wherein a superficial velocity of producer gas inside the freeboard section during steady state operation is between 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) and 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s).
 12. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 10, wherein a thermochemical conversion process occurs within the biogasifier at a temperature between 900° F. (482.2° C.) and 1700° F. (926.7° C.).
 13. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 10, wherein said fluidized bed reactor comprises a bubbling fluidized bed reactor.
 14. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 12, wherein said temperature range is between 1150° F. (621.1° C.) and 1600° F. (871.1° C.).
 15. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 10, wherein a superficial velocity of the producer gas inside the freeboard section during steady state operation is between 0.5 m/s and 2.5 m/s.
 16. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step of using a cyclone separator to separate material exhausted from said fluidized bed reactor into producer gas and ash.
 17. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 12, wherein the thermochemical conversion process occurs with an oxygen-to-fuel equivalence ratio between 0.1 and 0.5.
 18. The method for gasifying biosolids in accordance with claim 12, wherein the thermochemical conversion process occurs with an oxygen-to-fuel equivalence ratio between 0.15 and 0.35. 